"Ride High, Ride Tall...Overkill Will Never Fall!"

New Jersey thrash metal legends Overkill released their eighteenth (!) studio album, The Grinding Wheel, in February of 2017...which was welcome news for this longtime fanboy. Overkill has been one of my favorite bands for more than a quarter century and in that time the band has never wavered from their mission to bring fans the best in crunching, punishing, heavy-as-hell Thrash Metal. It does my heart good to know that Overkill is still around and still recording long after most of their mosh-pit contemporaries from the '80s have either broken up, sold out, or disappeared. They may never have achieved the massive level of popularity that the so-called "Big Four" bands did during the '80s thrash metal explosion, but Overkill has maintained a diehard, blue-collar cult following both at home and abroad that comes out in force every time they release a new album or go on tour. This is a band that has survived countless line up changes, continuously ignored musical trends, and has damn near lost its lead singer to the Grim Reaper -- twice! -- and yet they keep on truckin', releasing a new album every year and a half or two years like clockwork and continuing to fight the good fight on concert stages across the globe. Such longevity demands respect!! This Hub will give you a quick Reader's Digest version of the band's proud history and point out what I feel are the strongest of their recorded works.

POWER IN BLACK demo, 1983. | Source

At the Dawn of the 80s...

Overkill were born and bred in Southern New Jersey and formed out of the ashes of bassist Carlo (later "D.D.") Verni and drummer Lee "Rat Skates" Kundrat's high-school punk rock band The Lubric*nts. Overkill was equally inspired by '70s punk rock and the early '80s NWOBHM scene, and started out as a cover band, playing their favorite songs at local clubs and bars. Verni and Skates went through the usual lineup shuffles common to all young bands while banging out a fairly eclectic (for the time period) set of covers including songs by the Scorpions, the Ramones, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and the Dead Boys. Eventually the "classic" Overkill lineup consisting of Verni, Skates, vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and guitarist Bobby Gustafson came together circa 1982. By this time, the band had phased out most of their cover tunes in favor of aggressive Sabbath and Motorhead-inspired originals based around the themes of horror and death. A theatrical, ghoulish stage show inspired by the Misfits accompanied their live presentation and made them a popular draw around tri-state area rock clubs.

Overkill recorded a five-song demo tape, Power in Black, in 1983, which sold like hotcakes at their live shows and through mail-order. The success of the demo led to a four song self-titled EP on Azra/Metalstorm Records in 1984 and finally, a full length debut album. 1985's Feel the Fire was released on Jonny Zazula's legendary MegaForce Records - the metal indie label that had also been the launching pad for Metallica, Raven and Anthrax. It was official, Overkill had arrived!

"Rotten to the Core" (1985)

"Under the Influence" (1988) | Source

Major Label Madness...

Feel the Fire put Overkill on the map, but the best was yet to come. By the time their sophomore release, Taking Over, hit shelves in 1987, MegaForce had signed a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. The extra "push" from having a major label in their corner put Overkill on MTV with "In Union We Stand" and on the road around the world. Skates left the band at the end of '87, citing tour burnout, but Overkill quickly replaced him with Sid Falck and unleashed Under the Influence in '88, a career high point that included the signature tune "Welcome to the Gutter," another set-list mainstay.

1989's The Years of Decay was the peak of Overkill's major-label period. With heavy metal at its mainstream height, the band's video for "Elimination" got major play on MTV's "Headbanger's Ball," and relentless touring paid off with sold out shows across the U.S. and abroad. However, musical tastes changed as the 90s dawned, the industry turned on a dime and Overkill's lean years began. Gustafson exited after the Decaytour and Overkill became a five piece, replacing him with two guitarists - Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. Still a major label act, this lineup released the fine Horrorscopein 1991, the odd I Hear Black (which marked the debut of drummer Tim Mallare) in '93, and W.F.O. for Atlantic in 1994, but grunge was king at the time and Atlantic had placed Overkill on the back burner. When the label finally cut them loose in 1995, it was probably a relief!

"Hello From the Gutter" (1988)

Back to the Indies...

Overkill found a receptive new home with the metal-friendly indie CMC International label in 1995 and released the double-live album Wrecking Your Neck. By this point Gant and Cannavino were already gone, replaced by the new guitar team of Sebastian Marino (ex-Anvil) and Joe Comeau (ex-Liege Lord). 1996's The Killing Kind, 97's stellar From the Underground and Below, and 1999's excellent Necroshinespewed forth from this lineup, and while the band kept on chugging, they found that the wheel was starting to come around for old-school, traditional metal again. Overkill were now regulars on the European metal festival circuit and could still pack clubs on the home front, and were settling comfortably into their status as Elder Statesmen of the thrash scene. 1999's Coverkill was a collection of the band members' favorite songs by KISS, Deep Purple, Judas Priest and many more, touching base with their cover-band roots and bringing them full circle.

A brief cancer scare for Blitz Ellsworth only temporarily sidelined the band during the making of Necroshine(thankfully he made a full recovery), then 2000's Bloodlettingmarked the exit of Comeau and Marino. Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer became the new guitar team in time for 2002's Wrecking Everything live CD and DVD (their debut for new label Spitfire Records). Prior to '03's Killbox 13, Blitz suffered a mild stroke while onstage in Germany, but obviously nothin' keeps this guy down for long, because he was back on his feet in record time. Ron Lipnicki (ex-Hades) took over the drum stool for 2005's excellent RelixIV, and this is the lineup (Blitz, Verni, Tailer, Linsk and Lipnicki) that still stands tall today. Lamb of God's Randy Blythe made a guest appearance on "Skull and Bones" from 2007's Immortalis, showing some respect for a band that was a major influence on him. 2010's awesome Ironbound featured the single/video "Bring Me the Night" and was Overkill's most successful album in years, even managing to crack the lower regions of the Billboard sales charts upon its release.

"Necroshine" (1999)

"Midnight, dark sky...OVERKILL WILL NEVER DIE!"

White Devil Armory was unleashed in July of 2014 and was met with an ecstatic response from the band's faithful "Blood Metal Donors." W.D.A. actually managed to crack the Billboard Top 40 album chart in its first week of release, reaching a position of #31. Not bad for a bunch of thrashers with 30 years under their studded belts. As usual, Overkill supported the release with near-endless touring around the globe, bringing their blue collar metal to the masses.

I was lucky enough to catch Overkill live for the first time since 1994 (yes, it had been TWENTY YEARS!) in late 2014 and I can vouch for their continued intensity and power on the concert stage. If they hit your area, you are well advised to buy a ticket and prepare for the thrashing of your life!!

"Historikill" box set (2015) | Source

In 2015, Overkill signed a new worldwide deal with the veteran metal label Nuclear Blast Records - who had previously only handled Overkill's European affairs, but will now release their work globally. The first fruit of this new partnership was the Historikill: 1995-2007 box set - a collector's edition box compiling all of their studio and live material released between '95 and '07 on the CMC, Sanctuary, Spitfire and Bodog labels, plus a bonus disc of demos and rarities. Many of the albums Overkill released through these now-defunct labels have been out of print for years...which makes Historikill a handy way for fans to play catch-up on any titles they may have missed without having to pay exorbitant collector's prices for individual discs on auction sites.

Historikill celebrated Overkill's three-plus decades in the trenches of metal, and set the stage nicely for the new album. Here's hoping that they will keep producing their brand of skull crushing old school thrash for another 30 years!

Comments

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Keith Abt 15 months agofrom The Garden State

Updated with cover art for the new album THE GRINDING WHEEL!

Author

Keith Abt 17 months agofrom The Garden State

Updated with new album info and a snippet of a new track!

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Keith Abt 22 months agofrom The Garden State

Updated

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Keith Abt 3 years agofrom The Garden State

Updated

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Keith Abt 3 years agofrom The Garden State

Updated

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Keith Abt 3 years agofrom The Garden State

Updated with a YouTube of the new track "Armorist!"

Author

Keith Abt 3 years agofrom The Garden State

Updated with a pic of the new CD cover!

Author

Keith Abt 3 years agofrom The Garden State

UPDATED with some info about Overkill's forthcoming new album, "White Devil Armory!"

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Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

Cool man, will check it out. I will post a review of my own eventually, I just need to find the time to bang one out.

Steve Orion 5 years agofrom Tampa, Florida

I've posted my review of the album, and am awaiting yours! I thought, after repeated listens, that Ironbound was better.

Author

Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

Right on, Skurv... and seriously, you gotta write some Hubs of your own about some of your musical adventures one of these days!!

ScurvySkalliwag 5 years agofrom Judith River, Montana

I first a these yahoos in Old Bridge, New Jersey in like 1983. I was a weary travler from the west coast trying to earn a buck or two playing in some tri-state bars and dives. I dig the first few lps. Say up till Horrorscope than interest waned. I scrounged up a used copy of Killbox 13 as a kickdown from a guy whom I played in a band with just after it came out and have slowly but surely revisited most of the discography.

Ironbound was a notch or two up from Immortalis and The Electric Age continues on the same vein as Ironbound.

Cool man, glad you're digging it!! I picked it up as well and it's pretty badass. Will be posting my review as soon as I find time to bang one out!

Steve Orion 5 years agofrom Tampa, Florida

Damn, I am liking the new album! Listening to it now and will be for a while. I'll also post a review ASAP and will be waiting for yours!

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Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

I was a big Anthrax fan during the '80s but once Belladonna split and they replaced him with John Bush it just wasn't the same.

That said, their new one w/Joey, WORSHIP MUSIC, is a pretty damn fine piece of work.

NetBlots 5 years agofrom Melbourne

Yeah same, I'm not much of an anthrax man myself =)

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Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

If they ever extend the "Big 4" to the "Big 5," then Overkill definitely deserves the #5 spot in my book. I always preferred them to Anthrax (and still do!)

Manny 5 years ago

Love Overkill and IMO they should replace Anthrax with Overkill as one of the big 4, no drama when they replace musicians, no pretense, just balls to the wall hard driving ass kicking metal done New York Style

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Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

Cool man, will check out your band!

NetBlots 5 years agofrom Melbourne

No problemo!

Oh my profile may not look all that metal, but I front a heavy metal band called Knightmare... www.knightmaremetal.com =)

Author

Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

Updated with new YouTube link to a song from the new album!!

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Keith Abt 5 years agofrom The Garden State

Right on, NetBlots! Thanks for stopping by!

NetBlots 5 years agofrom Melbourne

Damn that's awesome!!

Be straight down to the music store to buy that one!!

\m/

Steve Orion 5 years agofrom Tampa, Florida

Hell yes! Nice preview, this album is on my to-watch-and-review list. Can't wait!

Thanx THR... obviously I'm a bit of a fanboy (Haha), I think pretty much any Overkill is good Overkill, but IRONBOUND was definitely a step up from the last few albums that preceded it and is well worth checking out in my book.

TheHeavyReview 6 years ago

I haven't listened to "Ironbound" yet, but these comments really make me want to go check it out! This is great hub, and it's very well written. You obviously know lots about Overkill!

I love their first four albums; I think "Under the Influence" is my personal favorite. "Wrecking Crew" from "Taking Over" might just be my favorite song from the band. I'm excited for the new album, there are so many great metal releases coming out in 2012!

Author

Keith Abt 6 years agofrom The Garden State

You're welcome Steve... IRONBOUND was their best in a long time and from what I can hear in that "in the studio" clip it sounds like the new stuff will carry on in that vein. I'm stoked!

Steve Orion 6 years agofrom Tampa, Florida

Sweet! I first found these guys after they released Ironbound and have been listening to them ever since. I think their last was best, based on the albums I heard. Thanks for this news, I'm totally psyched!

Brian L Marshall 6 years ago

Cool that they have a new one, although I haven't paid attention much to their output after Necroshine.